How do I convince my parents to get me baby chicks?

[Mimi13]

After reading all the responses of no predators I am leaning toward the fact that someone didn’t want you to have chickens in the first place and made quick work of them.

My advice from this point on is, supposing your parents are going to let you have chicks again:

1) cute chicks grow up to be poopy big birds...forever. They don’t change back. That cute stage doesn’t last more than several weeks.
2) begin studying all types of chicken predators. They are there, trust me, just waiting in the wings for an unexpectant bird or bird owner.
3) your yard is very pretty and just a few chickens would find it a wonderful place to live.
4) you must build the most secure coop and run possible. It is your responsibility to make sure accidents don’t happen, or at least keep them to, uh let’s say, only one, and then prevent it from ever happening again.
5) your chickens must be kept out of your neighbor’s yard. Remember, predators can walk on two legs and have names like John and Mary. Just saying. You are young and don’t see all the bad the world has to offer...yet. I only wish it could remain that way, always.
And finally, 6) however much work and time and sweat and tears you put into your flock will you reap in rewards. That is a given. Those little birds will love you back for all of it.

I wish you the best of luck and I know you will be an awesome chicken keeper, even if it takes a few years.

 

[Cryss]

Once I actually did find several feathers near their favorite spot in my backyard (there were like 30 feathers laying around). Maybe it was a predator, but there aren't any chicken predators in the area I live in.

No, none. I'm confidently sure there aren't any nearby.

Nonsense!

Miraculous! I need to know where that is, I want to move somewhere with no chicken predators. Those places don't exist.
There are birds of prey everywhere in the world.
Unless you sit outside all night with night vision glasses, you will never know what is afoot waiting for unprotected chicken dinner.
Where do you think the pile of feathers came from, not from a person stealing a bird.

You don't want to hear this but you need to.
You have predators. They don't want to be seen or you would be protecting your flock. So they come out when you can't see them. If you truly believe you have no predators then I agree with your parents.you are too young and not responsible enough to raise chickens. You mentioned you live in a city. Rats. Just one example. There is no sweet spot on this earth without predators.
You have mentioned building a big coop so they are comfortable, then turn round and ask how to keep them from going into your neighbors yard if your neighbors don't have something blocking their property off. The person responsible for preventing them from going onto neighbors property is not the neighbors. It is you. You need to make the divider. You need to build a coop 4sqft for each bird. Attached to that you need to build an enclosed run, 10sqft per bird, covered with 1/2 inch hardware cloth as the fencing and roof, and a hardware cloth apron 2ft wide on the ground outside the fence. You keep your birds inside at all times. Free ranging is not an option for you.

 

[ValerieJ]

Thank you everyone for the replies I really appreciate it. My mom may have finally let me have chicks! I think I'm ready to take on the responsibility, and I will go the extra mile so they don't do the things that bothered my mom (including going to the neighbors' gardens). I'm very happy that I might get them again. I'm going to attempt to build a spacious coop (so they don't disturb others), and I'll try to let them already feel like they have enough space in the one we provide, and not the ones that the neighbors do.

Well that is just awesome.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Hello! This is my first post. I have a question.... (it kind of is, last time we had baby chicks, they went in the neighbors' garden and pecked their flowers). ...

More information needed.
How many and what breeds of chickens did you have before?
How old were they when they disappeared?
If they were baby chicks, they couldn't have gotten over a fence. Did they sneak through an opening in the fence?

 

[ValerieJ]

View attachment 1832713 This is the first picture of my backyard (so someone could tell me if it's enough space to have chicks)View attachment 1832716 This is the second picture of my backyard.View attachment 1832723This is a picture of the big area next to my house (it's much wider and longer when you go farther into it, but this was the only picture I could take, sorry). Would this also be a big enough area for chicks to peck around and roam in?View attachment 1832724 All that field shown in the picture are my neighbors' yards, and as you can see, they aren't separated by anything, so the chicks can easily go into their yards. How can I avoid this happening?

I think you have room for a couple chickens. A small breed would be best. In addition to the coop you need a run (penned in area where they cannot get out and a predator cannot get in). A coop and run that can be moved around the yard would be perfect. Go into coop and run designs on this site for ideas.

And for all of you naysayers, I have made mistakes with my chickens and I’m definitely old enough. We all have to learn sometime If we want chickens how to care for them. At least he/she is asking the right questions now.

 

[CHICKSARETHEBEST]

I think you have room for a couple chickens. A small breed would be best. In addition to the coop you need a run (penned in area where they cannot get out and a predator cannot get in). A coop and run that can be moved around the yard would be perfect. Go into coop and run designs on this site for ideas.

And for all of you naysayers, I have made mistakes with my chickens and I’m definitely old enough. We all have to learn sometime If we want chickens how to care for them. At least he/she is asking the right questions now.

I want to get ISA Browns, since they lay lots of eggs. Would that be considered a small breed?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

...
And for all of you naysayers, I have made mistakes with my chickens and I’m definitely old enough. We all have to learn sometime If we want chickens how to care for them. At least he/she is asking the right questions now.

I agree but the only question asked was how to get the parents to agree to allow it to happen again.

 

[Mimi13]

I want to get ISA Browns, since they lay lots of eggs. Would that be considered a small breed?

No, hon, an ISA Brown is considered a large fowl. You need to google bantam breeds. There are several to choose from.

 

[CHICKSARETHEBEST]

More information needed.
How many and what breeds of chickens did you have before?
How old were they when they disappeared?
If they were baby chicks, they couldn't have gotten over a fence. Did they sneak through an opening in the fence?

3 at first, then 2.
The first time they were 3 days old (yeah, so small, I was so sad). The second time they were 3-4 months old.
They did not sneak through a fence when they used to escape, they went to the end of my row of houses (including the yards), and that would take them outside. Sometimes they would also go through a fence (an opening, the bars were wide), but when they were much older. When they went through the fence, it would take them to a sidewalk next to the road.

 

[aart]

3 at first, then 2.
The first time they were 3 days old (yeah, so small, I was so sad). The second time they were 3-4 months old.
They did not sneak through a fence when they used to escape, they went to the end of my row of houses (including the yards), and that would take them outside. Sometimes they would also go through a fence (an opening, the bars were wide), but when they were much older. When they went through the fence, it would take them to a sidewalk next to the road.

Did you ave a coop and run?
Please answer the questions I and other members have asked.
We're trying to help but can't without good info.